Tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments



April 11, 1939. F] AL N 2,153,736

TUNE INDICATING DEVICE FOR S TRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 2, 1937 III/II INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUNE INDICATING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for indicating whether or not musical instruments are properly tuned and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a device of this class that beginners and students may use for indicating Whether or not the strings of their musical instruments are properly tuned;

Second, to provide a device of this class which does not have to be changed or. adjusted, but is always in operating order;

Third, to provide a device of this class which may be entirely closed up so that the interior is inaccessible so that beginners, students, or the like cannot change or get the device out of operating condition;

Fourth, to provide a device of this class which is very small and compact and therefore applicable for the various types of stringed instruments now in use;

Fifth, to provide a device of this class which with slight change by adding tuning wires may be made applicable for practically any type of stringed musical instruments; and

Sixth, to provide a device of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, eflicient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my tune indicating device taken from the line l--l of Fig. 2 and showing some of the parts and portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of said tune indicating device; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The casing I, casing cover 2, transparent member 3, tuning wire support 4, tuning wires 5, 6, I, and 8, partition member 9 and dangler member constitute the principal parts and portions of my tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments.

The casing I is a rectangularly shaped box member open at its upper side and is made of wood or other suitable material. It is provided on its upper open side with a cover 2, which is preferably secured thereon to prevent tampering by the inexperienced. This cover 2 is provided with a transparent member 3 positioned across 6 the same, preferably diagonally as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing and may be made of glass, Celluloid, or other transparent material, thus providing a tight enclosure for the interior of the casing I, but permitting visibility over a portion 10 of its interior.

Secured in the bottom of the casing l near one end thereof is a tuning wire support 4 which extends transversely in said casing l and is secured thereto by means of screws 4a shown best in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing. Rigidly secured in the upper edge of this member 4 and extending from one side thereof in cantilever form are a plurality of tuning wires. In this case I have shown four numbered 5, 6, I, and 8. They are preferably made of piano or music wire. The longest one 5 extends to near the upper end and then are gradually diminished in length to the wire 8 which is considerably shorter and provides for the different tunes by reason of their varying lengths.

Positioned across this casing and secured to the bottom thereof and extending upwardly is a double partition member 9 which includes a base 9a and two upwardly extending members 91) and 9c. The members 8b and 9c are spaced a short distance from each other as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. These members 9b and 9c are provided with holes 911 and 92 therein and the tuning wires 5 to 8 extend through these holes at substantially the center thereof as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawing. And mounted on each of these tuning wires 5 to 8 inclusive between these partitions 9b and 9c are dangler members I 0 which are ring like members supported on the wires 5 to 8 so that when these tuning wires 5 to 8 vibrate when they are in synchronization with the string of the instrument being tuned, the dangling members will jump about and swing on the wires between the partitions 9b and 9c and are readily observed through the transparent member 3 through the upperside and still are inaccessible for inexperienced tuners.

The operation of my tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments is as follows: The casing member I is placed on any suitable part of the musical instrument, the wires 5 to 8 being in proper tune for the strings of the instrument, or the casing may be placed in close proximity to the instrument. The person who is tuning will observe the particular tuning wires of the device through the transparent member 3 while playing the strings of the instrument until the strings are perfectly tuned in accordance with the wires of the device. It is by the jumping about of the dangler members H] on their particular tuning wire.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments, a casing, means for enclosing said casing so that it is inaccessible, a plurality of tuning wires of stepped length supported wholly at their one ends near one end of said casing, a pair of partitions extending across said casing provided with holes therein through which said wires extend, and a dangle member positioned on each wire between said partitions.

2. In a, tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments, an enclosing casing, means for enclosing said casing so that it is inaccessible, a plurality of tuning members of stepped length supported wholly at their one ends near one end of said casing, a pair of partitions extending across said casing provided with holes therein through which said tuning members extend, and a dangle member positioned on each tuning member between said partitions.

3. In a tune indicating device for stringed musical instruments, 8. support, a tuning wire secured at one end therein and supported entirely at said one end, a pair of partitions with holes therein through which said wire extends, and a dangler member mounted on said wire between said partitions.

FREDERICK J. ALYN. 

